Met Police forced to change music 'risk' form
The Metropolitan Police has today unveiled a more targeted version of its controversial Form 696, covering music events, with a senior officer admitting parts of the previous form were "clumsy".
But at a briefing today, Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Martin strongly denied allegations the original version of the form was "racist" because it asked for the type of music to be played.
The question asking for genre of music has been removed from the new form however.
In a boost for London pubs that have bands, licensees hosting live music should now escape having to use the form.
After a review of the document, the new version recommends that only nightclubs or large pubs that host DJs or MCs after 10pm should fill out the four-page document.
DCS Martin said the form was still "purely voluntary", although 70 London venues do have it as condition of their licence.
He added: "696 is about minimum intrusion, but maximum effect… we still think it's a useful form."
Twelve recommendations were made following the review of the form. In addition to dropping the genre of music question, licensees will no longer have to provide telephone numbers of performers.
The police also said it would set up a scrutiny council to assess the form on a "regular basis".
However opponents of the form are still calling for it to be scrapped. Feargal Sharkey, chief executive of UK Music, said: "Form 696 should not be amended. It should be scrapped."
He also accused the Metropolitan Police of not being open in the review process. "The review process for this risk assessment form has not been conducted in a fully transparent way, and we would like to make it clear that UK Music has not been part of this review."
- The Publican is also campaigning for Form 696 to be scrapped as part of its live music campaign Listen Up!
